Commuter fears over packed trains

Wairarapa train commuters are complaining of "Third World travelling conditions" and safety concerns on packed trains.

KiwiRail admits passenger counts on the three peak morning services from Masterton to Wellington, up to 1200, often outnumber available seats, nearing speed-restriction capacity in recent weeks.

However, the company, which has been plagued by problems on its Wellington train network, denies passengers' safety is at risk.

Angry passengers say the first Wellington-bound morning train is most packed because extensive delays on later services – some running more than an hour late – meant many people now caught the earlier train to make it to work on time.

The 5.45am train from Masterton has had standing room only at least five times in the past month. Most of the 266 seats were taken before it reached the busiest station of Featherston.

Martinborough woman June Glyn-Jones said commuters sometimes sprawled on the floor in aisles, while others clung to the backs of seats to keep their balance.

Mrs Glyn-Jones, 62, who commutes daily from Featherston to her secretarial job in Wellington, said conditions were getting worse. She feared someone would get hurt.

"We were blocked in like something out of India. The past few weeks, particularly on a Monday and Tuesday, there have been 80 to 90 people standing and people are tripping over, packed in together.

"I'm sure [health and safety inspectors] wouldn't like us to be standing in the middle of the carriage, where there is an accident just waiting to happen."

Kevin Blair, from Te Marua, said he regularly sat on the floor from when he boarded at Maymorn till at least Upper Hutt.

KiwiRail spokesman Nigel Parry said there were clear safety guidelines that allowed for 100 passengers to be standing before train speeds were reduced from 100kmh to 80kmh.

It was up to train staff and train managers to ensure standing passengers did not block aisles or risk tripping others, but passengers should use common sense.

KiwiRail tried to move carriages around to accommodate demand, but was constrained by the number of carriages available, he said.

"We already do a juggling act within the resources we have available. Extending the number of carriages or additional services would take a considerable amount of investment which is not something that is being considered right now, but will be borne in mind."

The Labour Department said it could investigate overcrowding concerns only if it became aware of an event with the potential to result in serious injury.

There were no current concerns.

- © Fairfax NZ News